Marching Forth!

The Christian's faith in God is according to knowledge revealed in the Bible, God's word.  As it is written, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" ( Romans 10:16-17 ).  As conversations between parents can go over their young children's heads, even when we have read through the Scriptures many times it is likely timeless truth has escaped the notice of born-again children of God until now.  There are also many things we know and believe to be true we have yet to appropriate, apply to our lives or guide our perspective.  Exposure to the word of God leads to our salvation, and a regular diet of God's word contributes mightily to our sanctification and spiritual maturity. During recent study I came across a quote attributed to D.L. Moody that drove home an important point:  " He who is born once will die twice; he who is born twice will die once ."  Every living human being was born of two parents, and due to sin everyone will die phys...

" Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD : "I remember you,  t he kindness of your youth,  t he love of your betrothal,  w hen you went after Me in the wilderness,  i n a land not sown ." Jeremiah 2:1-2 God is the same yesterday, today and forever; He is faithful and good towards all, and His people know this well.  Through the prophet God addressed His people, the children of Israel, about how over time they had changed.  During the season when God led them like a flock through the wilderness, they followed Him by faith with fervent desire.  This newborn nation followed God like a betrothed woman sought out her husband to walk with him--with only eyes for Him.  Sadly, Israel's devotion and kindness toward God did not remain steadfast.  God remembered how Israel once followed Him in the wilderness:  in a land not sown. It is significant Israel fol...

Enjoyable and profitable conversation occurs when people are attentive to one another, listening and speaking in turn.  This exchange of ideas and deepening of relationship is greatly hindered if one does all the talking, if they habitually interrupt one another, or walks away without listening.  Every culture has its own nuance of what constitutes polite manners and decorum while conversing with one another, and consideration of the feelings and views of others is generally a good approach. Ironically, our approach to conversing with people can be practically ignored in our prayers to God.  I have been guilty of doing all the talking and not taking a moment to still my heart and be silent before King Jesus, barging into his presence as if He does not know what I'm going to say.  I have made the mistake Peter did when Jesus was transfigured before his eyes, speaking because he did not know what to say.  When I have sought God's guidance and wisdom concerning a m...

Knowing God as revealed in the Bible gives us confident expectation of good even when troubles abound.  With the many voices and influences in the world, God's people ought to determine His word will carry greater weight with us than all other feelings, opinions and views.  It is never easy to trust God and follow Him, as we are prone to lean on our own understanding or rely on help or guidance from others, but it is simple enough even a child can do it faithfully. G.K. Chesterton famously remarked in an essay, " The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting.  It has been found difficult and left untried ." (Chesterton, G. K. What’s Wrong with the World . Ignatius Press, 1994. pg. 37)  Indeed, even those who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ find personal sanctification and God's refinement difficult.  When our eyes are focused on how far we have come pride can set in, and should we fix our gaze on how far we still have to go we are easily overwh...